It's a dog's life! The TOWIE cast take their groomed pooches for a glamorous walk in the park as they take a break from filming

They brought us vajazzles and have displayed their own Essex styles with their hair extensions and fake tanned skin since breaking on to TV screens.

But it seems the cast of The Only Way Is Essex have now gone a step further for their love of all things over the top.

Four of the crew - Lauren Pope, Chloe Sims, Mario Falcone and Ricky Rayment - were spotted filming for the ITV2 show on Thursday as they took a break with two of their miniature-sized dogs and a larger four-legged friend.

Barking mad! Four of the crew - Lauren Pope, Chloe Sims, Mario Falcone and Ricky Rayment - were spotted filming for the ITV show on Thursday as they took a break with three dogs

Glammed up while petting their petite pets, it was Chloe who stood out the most in a cream drop hem skirt and shirt to match her pale-coloured pooch.

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She seemed to find tugging it along on a sky blue lead hilarious as she giggled and carried the pet through the sun-drenched park before the other dogs playfully joined in.

Lauren was pet-free and looked delighted, too, as she joined the cast strutting around in knee-high boots and tight-fitting black trousers.

For legged friends: Mario, dressed in a blue gillet that showed off his biceps and tattoos, clearly thought the pooches were barking mad as he enjoyed their energetic antics

A moment's rest: From left Ricky, Lauren, Chloe and Mario, look exhausted from filming after it was revealed some of the cast are turning up late for scenes

She teamed her ensemble with a lace detailed top and threw a cream jacket over her shoulders.

At one stage Ricky was dragged along by two pooches and coouldnt contain his laughter as he battled to distract them with a tennis ball.

Mario, dressed in a blue gillet that showed off his biceps and tatooes, clearly thought the pooches were barking mad as he enjoyed their energetic antics.

Hanging out with man's best friend: A glammed-up Chloe stood out the most in a cream drop hem skirt

The foursome eventually collapsed on a bench where Ricky struggled to stifle yawn whilst Mario looked exhausted from the morning's filming.

At one stage Mario was seen slipping into a brand new car looking smug with his new purchase.

Prominent cast-members from the reality show have reportedly been told off by programme bosses for not taking their filming and promotional commitments seriously.

Dogless! Lauren was pet-free and looked delighted, too, as she joined the cast strutting around in knee-high boots and tight-fitting black trousers

The show recently returned for an eleventh series, but sources claim cast-members were given a dressing down for diva-like behaviour on set, including a general ambivalence towards the shooting schedule.

A source told The Daily Mirror's Clemmie Moodie: ‘It became clear that as the cast aren't professional actors, some of them don't understand the fact that if they are late or messing around, it costs time and money and can turn into a bit of a nightmare.’

The source added: ‘There was a lot of moaning from everyone about the length of time everything was taking too - which got the backs up of all the other, more professional people on the shoot who had turned up on time.’

Exhausted: The show recently returned for an eleventh series, but sources claim cast-members were given a dressing down for diva-like behaviour on set, including a general ambivalence towards the shooting schedule

While key cast-members such as Joey Essex and Lucy Mecklenburgh have departed, the series - which won a BAFTA award in 2011 – still includes veteran Chole, as well as James 'Arg' Argent and Sam Faiers.

But while the old hands are used to the hectic schedule, general attitudes on set prompted a tongue lashing.

‘Obviously it wasn't all the cast behaving badly but bosses wanted to ensure everyone received the message,’ the source added.

Pet panic: Lauren struggled to control her pooch which fought with Ricky's as Mario and Lauren giggled uncontrollably

Sticking to the four wheels: At one stage Mario was seen slipping into a brand new car looking smug with his new purchase.